Emerging Space Norms Project
An interdisciplinary research initiative
Mapping the emerging norms that will govern behaviour in outer space
As space becomes increasingly congested, commercialised, and contested, the rules governing responsible behaviour are evolving faster than formal legal frameworks can respond. This project investigates how those informal norms emerge and how they may be enforced in the future.
About the project
Why emerging space norms matter
The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 established foundational principles
for the exploration and use of space. But contemporary space activity, involving a growing number of States, commercial operators and military actors, demands a more granular and adaptive normative framework than formal treaties have been able to provide.
This project brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from international law, political science, strategy, sociology, ethics, economics, and
science and technology policy to investigate how norms of responsible behaviour emerge and consolidate in the space domain.
The project’s long-term goal is an open, publicly accessible repository of emerging space norms — a living map of the normative landscape that can inform decision-making by governments, commercial operators, international organisations, and civil society.
Interdisciplinary research
Bringing together law, strategy, political science, sociology, ethics, economics, and technology policy.
Track 1.5 dialogue
Workshops convening government, military, industry, academia, and civil society to exchange perspectives.
Open repository
Building towards a publicly accessible database of emerging
space norms, with evidence and analysis.
Regional network
Anchored in Australia, the UK, the EU. and North America, with participation spanning the globe.
Workshops
Upcoming and recent activities
The project will convene a series of international, interdisciplinary workshops through Track 1.5 dialogue. These workshops are intended to bring together participants from government, military, industry, academia, and civil society to examine specific normative challenges in the space domain.
Inaugural Track 1.5:
Dialogue on Emerging Space Norms
Second Dialogue:
Norm Typologies and Prioritisation
December 2025
Meridian International Center
Washington DC
The first workshop in the series, focused on establishing a shared conceptual framework for norm emergence in the space domain and identifying priorities for further research.
November 2026
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
Further details will be announced in due course. If you are interested in participating, please register your interest below.
Participate
Register your interest!
We welcome participation from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers with expertise relevant to space governance, international law, security, commercial space activity, and related disciplines. We are particularly interested in building a network that reflects the diversity of perspectives across the space sector.
To register your interest in being kept informed about workshops and research outputs, or to explore how you might contribute to the project, please contact us.
Partners and Collaborators
Who is Involved?
The Emerging Space Norms project is led by the Australian Centre for Space Governance (ACSG) and administered through UNSW Canberra.
The project includes research collaboration with institutions in Australia, the United States & Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and beyond.
Here we will bring together scholars from space law, international law, strategic studies, political science, and related fields, alongside practitioners from government, military, and the commercial space industry.
The ESNP project site is developed by Jonathan Kaley-Isley
with special thanks to Dr. Duncan Blake and Dr. Mark Hilborne
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